How to Conquer Overeating with Deborah Kesten

In today’s episode of the “Helping Families be Happy” podcast, host Dr. Carla Marie Manly, a practicing Clinical Psychologist, Wellness Advocate, and Author based in Sonoma County, California talks with Deborah Kesten, M.P.H. author of Whole Person Integrative Eating. Deborah is an international nutrition researcher, and medical and health writer, with a specialty in preventing and reversing obesity and heart disease.

 

Episode Highlights

• 1:09 – Deborah shares how Whole Person Integrative Eating came to be and why eating from the heart is important. 
• 4:42 – Deborah shares how the new way of overeating can be reversed without dieting through her Whole Person Integrative Eating method. This dietary lifestyle can also help people avoid rollercoaster dieting.
• 12:13 – Dr. Carla recaps the overeating styles and their antidotes. Both Dr. Carla and Deborah discuss why appreciating food and its origins is vital. 
• 14:37 – Deborah explains why eating in an appealing atmosphere is important. Both aesthetics and a positive emotional atmosphere matter.  Dr. Carla inquires about eating in front of the television. 
• 16:17 – Deborah explains why it isn’t possible to say which of the antidotes are most important or which overeating styles are most harmful. She explains the holistic nature of WPIE.  
• 18:50 – Dr. Carla asks what Deborah would say to someone who is struggling with body image issues. 
• 21:04 – What and how did we eat for 1,000s of years, food was one of life’s greatest pleasures, says Deborah. 
• 27:50 – Dr. Carla asks how media pressure has impacted people’s self-image and eating styles. 
• 30:19 – Deborah discusses what she learned from Dr. Chopra about diet and ancient food wisdom. 
• 33:10 – Dr. Carla talks about the toxic cycle of comparison. We’re not all built to look the same, says Carla. 
• 35:08 – Observing and knowing people is more important than comparing and judging. Deborah reminds us that kindness is the most important part of a person.
• 38:21 – “Kindness doesn’t stop at giving someone a hug, kindness is from the inside out.” – Dr. Carla Marie Manly
• 42:10 – Deborah explains why eating to balance mind and body is better than any diet. 

Three Key Points

1. The book ‘Whole Person Integrative Eating’ gives readers the tools to correct their overeating habits and create a heal their bodies and minds.
2. The food you eat is only part of the equation. The way you eat and the environment you eat in also play a role in healthy eating and mindful living. 
3. Ancient food wisdom holds the key to a healthy relationship with food. Cooking with love and kindness are important. Eat in a way to balance mind and body.

 

Tweetable Quotes

• “I define Whole Person Integrative Eating as a dietary lifestyle, a way of life.”– Deborah Kesten
• “I describe WPIE as ancient food wisdom meets modern nutritional science.” – Deborah Kesten
• “Eat with others in a pleasant atmosphere both aesthetically and emotionally.” – Deborah Kesten
• “Appreciate food and its origins from the heart.” – Deborah Kesten
• “To relate to food as a social and sensual ceremonial pleasure, and let your weight fall where it’s meant to be.” – Deborah Kesten
• “I’m so appreciative of everything you’re saying because you’re making it easy for people.” – Dr. Carla Marie Manly
• “Slow down and make food less of a task and more of a joy.” – Dr. Carla Marie Manly
• “We’re not all built to look the same.” – Dr. Carla Marie Manly
• “Do you want to live your life, the precious gift of your life, thinking about your body?” – Deborah Kesten
• “The biggest gift we can give to ourselves is to observe ourselves and see if we are being kind to ourselves and others.” – Deborah Kesten
• “When you live from that place of kindness you find that you tend to eat in kinder ways.” – Dr. Carla Marie Manly

 

Resources Mentioned

• Helping Families be Happy Podcast Apple
• Dr. Carla Marie Manly Website LinkedIn Twitter   Instagram
• Deborah Kesten Website